Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a condition (details supplied) is not classed as a disability when trying to obtain a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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This issue is a matter for the Department of Finance. The Revenue Commissioners operate a tax relief scheme for the purchase of adapted vehicles for disabled drivers and disabled passengers, which falls under the remit of the Department of Finance. To be eligible to apply for tax relief under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, the applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of Scheme and satisfy a range of conditions. The assessment process for obtaining a Primary Medical Certificate is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) for the relevant local Health Service Executive (HSE) administrative area, on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the decision to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, an independent body, which is under the auspices of the Minister for Finance.

The HSE SMOs have no role in setting or amending the criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate, as these are set out by the Department of Finance. Further details about the scheme may be found at .